Bobbin stripping apparatus



April 14, 1953 E. ROOTIII 2,6 8

BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 14, 1953 E. RooTInI BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1952 llllll [III Illll PERMANENT MAGNET 0R awcmomuer April 14, 1953 E ROOTIII BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8, 1952 Patented Apr. 14, 1953 BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS Elihu Root III, Springfield, Vt., assignor to Warwick Mills, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Rhode Island Application April 8, 1952, Serial No. 281,186

(on. 2s -19) 23 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bobbin stripping apparatus and to improvements therein.

The invention as herein illustrated is applied to a bobbin stripper of the kind wherein bobbins are fed from a hopper to parallel tracks which support them for movement along the tracks toward a place of discharge, for example, a conveyor or a storage can or bin. As the bobbins move along the track their barrels or shanks are exposed to stripping means, for example,'rapidly rotating brushes which tear off the residual yarn left on the barrels. Such stripping apparatus at best is only about 88% eficient, that is approximately 12% of the bobbins after leaving the stripping means still have some yarn at their base and these incompletely stripped bobbins pass along with the clean bobbins to the place of discharge and must subsequently be segregated by hand and returned for another pass through the stripping apparatus. The principal object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which will selectively reject incompletely stripped bobbins so that they may be collected independently of the completely stripped bobbins and replaced in the stripper for recleaning without need for manual segregation from the clean bobbins. other objects of the invention are to provide bobbin rejecting means readily applicable to conventional stripping apparatus without substantial modification thereof, which will be operated even though but a single strand of yarn remains on the bobbin, but will not be actuated in the absence of yarn. Further objects are to provide bobbin rejecting means which is simple and posi-' tive in its operation, requires substantially no maintenance and is durable.

As herein illustrated, one of the tracks extending from the stripping element of the stripper to the storage bin for clean bobbins is provided with an escape-way constructed and arranged to permit the bobbin suspended between the tracks to be ejected by way, of it from the track before it reaches the place of discharge. As shown, the escape-way is provided by shortening one of the tracks near its end so that it terminates short of the other or by lengthening one of the tracks so that it is longer than the other. It is also within the scope of the invention that the escape-way maybe a gap in one of the tracks. The track ahead of the escape-way has spaced shoulders between which the butts of the spindles may slide and the spindles are suspended by engagement of their bobbin rings with these shoulders. The bobbins are gravitationally fed to the track from ahopper and are moved along the track. by travelling belts arranged along opposite. sides of the track for engagement with the butts of the bobbins. Means is provided at the escapeway for supporting the cleaned bobbins: on the: one track in spite of the absence of a portion of the other track, which is of such location and kind as .not to block the escape-way andhence not to interfere with rejection of an incompletely cleaned bobbin from the track. In its preferred form the foregoing means is a magnetic body mounted adjacent the one track opposite the escape so as to slidably engage the ring or rings at the base of the bobbin and to hold the butt sustained on the one track in spite of'the lack of support of the other track. The magnetic body may take the form of a permanent magnet or an electromagnetic magnet. Alternatively; a guide. may be employed for engagement with aportion of the spindle above the escape-way without blocking the way so as to hold the spindle against the one track. At the escape-way there is an ejector selectively operable in the presence of yarn on the bobbin to eject an incompletely cleaned bobbin. The cleaned bobbins not effecting actuation of the ejector continue on to the end of the track and are discharged therefrom. The ejector is operable by impact in response to yarn on the bobbin to expel the bobbin from the track by way of the escape-way and as illustrated in a solenoid operated striker located below the track in a position to strike the butt of the bobbin about opposite the escape-way. The means for selectively'operating the ejector includes a photo-- electric circuit in which there is a projector for directing a beam of light against the base of the bobbin and aviewer for receiving reflected light from the bobbin shank and for effecting en.- ergization of the solenoid in response to such reflected light. The: viewing element is made sensitive to blue light.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a bobbin stripping apparatus with the bobbin ejecting means which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention applied thereto 1 Fig. 2 is a vertical section to larger scale taken transversely of the bobbin supporting track at the place or ejection;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bobbin supporting track and ejecting means;

Fig, c is a vertical section corresponding to Fig.- 2- showing an alternative construction;

Fig. 4a illustrates an alternative track construction with a gap in it;

Fig. 4b is a plan View showing the sloping end face of the ejector; and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the photoelectric circuit for effecting operation of the ejector.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a bobbin stripping apparatus In which consists of a substantially rectangular frame, housed on all sides by side and end walls and supported from the floor by legs. At the top the frame has made fast thereto a pair of spaced parallel tracks I5 and i8 (Fig. 3) which run lengthwise of the frame for supporting bobbins to be cleaned and along which the bobbins are moved. The bobbins 26 have shanks 28 and the butts 3D and the latter have fast to them one or more metal rings 24. The bobbins are suspended between the tracks by engagement of the bobbin ring nearest the junction between the shank and butt the inner edges 29 and 22 of the rails which constitute sup-sorting shoulders; The bobbins are delivered to the horizontal portion of the track !2 from a hopper not shown by an inclined portion i4. Movement of the bobbins along the horizontal portion of the track is eifected by a pair of endless belts b.b mounted on the frame at opposite sides of the track for engagement with the butts of the bobbins as illustrated in Fig. 2. A rail r mounted above the track serves to prevent the bobbins from climb-' ing upwardly during their forward movement. The bobbin stripping means being conventional is not shown and usually consists of a plurality of rotating brushes arranged to rotate in con-' tact with the base of the shank as it moves along the track in such manner as to brush the yarn off. The fore oing strip ing an arat 's is about 38% efiicient that is approximately 12% of the bobbins fail to be completely cleaned of yarn even after-being exposed to the action of the stripping brushes and in the conventional apparatus these incompletely stripped bobbins move along the track with the cleaned bobbins and are discharged at the'end of the track in a bobbin bin 1 or onto a conveyor or other suitable means located below the end of the track. As a result it becomes necessary to segregate the incompletely stripped bobbins from the cleaned bobbins by hand and return them to the hopper for a second passage through the stripping apparatus. To avoid this bobbin re ecting means 25 (Fi 1) is provided for selectively reiecting any bobbin passing along the track toward the bin I which still has one or more strands of yarn clin ing thereto. This bobbin rejecting means is located in the track in such a position as to eject a bobbin from the track before the bobbin reaches the end and eiects it at' a secondarv place of discharge. for example into a secondary bobbin bin 9,'conveyor or the like so that all of the bobbins incompletely cleaned are kept separate from those that are completely cleaned'and may be reloaded into the hopper without manual segregation from the cleaned bobbins.

To accomplish the foregoing a portion of the track [6 is cut off (Fig. 4b) so that it terminates short of the track l8 leaving an escape-way l by way of which the bobbin maybe ejected laterally from the track It. It is to be understood, of course, that instead of cutting off a portion of the track to form the escape-way an extensionmay be added to one of the tracks or a gap formed in one of the tracks (Fig. 4a). As thus constructed, when a bobbin reaches the end of the track l6 or the gap therein, it is supported only at one side on the shoulder 22 of the track [8 and unless other means is provided for supporting the suspended bobbin it will fall or tip off the track and drop into the bobbin bin 9. Since it is only desirable to have those bobbins incompletely cleaned drop into the bobbin bin 9, means is provided for holding all of the bobbins for sliding movement along the track i8 toward the bin 1 regardless of whether they are incompletely cleaned or not and other means is provided for selectively rejecting the incompletely cleaned bobbins and allowing those completely cleaned to continue to the end of the track where they will fall into the bin 1.

As herein illustrated, a block 29 is made fast to the track l8'and'has an elongate vertical face 31 substantially perpendicular to the track and set back therefrom a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a ring 24 so as to provide a narrow ledge 32. The block may be of magnetic material, for example a permanent magnet or it may be an electromagnet with pole pieces 34; If the block is an electro-magnet suitable connections are provided for energizing the pole pieces. In either form that is as a permanent magnet or an electro-magnet the device constitutes a magnetic holding means which attracts and holds the ring or rings 24 at the butt of the bobbin against the face 3i and on the ledge 32. If nothing interferes with continued longitudinal movement of the bobbins supported on the ledge 32 and held against the face 31 of the magnet 29, the block pressure of succeeding bobbins behind will move them all' the way to the end of the track l8, that is beyond the magnetic holding means whereupon they will drop into the' bobbin bin 1.

In order to reject an incompletely stripped bobbin a solenoid Ll (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) is made fast to a bracket 46 which in turn is fastened to the track 18 and has a core 42 to which there is fastened a striker 44. The striker lies close to the underside of the track and is movable by actuation of the solenoid core transversely thereof. An aperture 38 in the wall of the frame permits the striker to pass through it and to strike the butt of the bobbin held against the magnetic block 29.

block and permit it to drop downwardly againstanapron 16 and a guide I8 into the bin 9. Selective actuation of the solenoid according to whether the bobbin contains a strand of yarn or not will be described hereinafter. The core 42 is returned to its initial position after actuation by a coiled spring 54 mounted on a post 52, the latter being fast to an arm 50. The arm 50 is fastened to an angle plate 48 and this in turn is fastened'to the bracket 46.

The striker 54 as illustrated in Fig. 4b has a sloping end face Ma so that if it should stay in operative position it will simply derail a series of bobbins without holding'up the line of bobbins and thus jamming the apparatus.

The escape-way as described provided by either lengthening or shortening one of the tracks is preferred because the way being located at the end of the track eliminates any question of timing or of an incomplete bobbin clearance since the bobbin cannot jam the track. 7 It is possible, however, with proper timing to effect ejection through an escape-way in the form of a gap in one of the tracks as illustrated in Fig. 4a. Such a gap could be employed if it were desirable, forexample to extend both tracks beyond the place The impact of the striker 44 is sufii-- cient to drive the bobbin away from the magneticabove tripping signal corresponds to about 106 micro-ampere from the phototube. In operation of the apparatus, used bobbin partially or completely exhausted of yarn except for a small residual amount at the base are loaded into a hopper which gravitationally feeds them to the track of the stripping apparatus, the bobbins being moved along suspended by their butts as heretofore explained by endless belts. As the bobbins move along the tracks l6 and I8 the bobbin barrels are exposed to the action of rapidly rotating brushes Or other suitable means which pulls, tears or otherwise brushes the residual yarn from them and it falls into the bottom of the apparatus. Some of this residual yarn may not be completely removed and hence as the bobbins move beyond the stripping means any bobbins from which the yarn is not completely removed would pass with the completely cleaned bobbins to the end of the track and fall intocthe bin I. Because of the gap in the track and the selectively operable ejector means which responds to the presence of yarn on the bobbin barrels, however, any bobbin still carrying yarn is prevented from reaching the end of the track by rejection from the track through the gap into the auxiliary receptacle 9. Operation of the ejector as heretofore explained is brought about by a photoelectric circuit containing a photocell responsive to the presence of yarn on the bobbin to energize the solenoid and kick the bobbin away from the track whether it is held by the magnetic means or by the guide member. Cleaned bobbins having no efiect on the photoelectric cell fail to cause actuation thereof and these being held on the track by either the magnetic means or the auxiliary guide continue to the end thereof and are deposited in the bin 1.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and place of discharge, and an ejector located along the track ahead of the place of discharge for selectively rejecting incompletely stripped bobbins before they reach the place of discharge.

2. In abobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge for completely stripped bobbins, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of a bobbin, one of said tracks having an escape-way through which the bobbin'may be ejected, auxiliary means supporting the bobbin at the escape-way, and ejector means located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin from the track byway of the escape-way before it reaches said place of discharge,

3. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of the bobbin for movement longitudinally ofthe track toward the place of discharge, one of said tracks having an escape-way topermit lateral ejection of the'bobbin, auxiliary means having contact with the bobbinat the escape-way to support it against overturn from the other track without blocking the escape-wayv and an ejector located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin from the track by way of the escape-way.

4. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a' track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of a bobbin with the bobbin ring resting on said shoulders, one of said tracks having an escape-way to permit lateral ejection of the bobbin, auxiliary means locatedout of registration with the escape-way in a position to enga e and support the butt of the bobbin on said. other track, and ejector means located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin from the track by Way of the esca e-way.

5. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of a bobbin with a bobbin ring resting on said shoulders, one of said tracks having an escape-way by way of which the bobbin may be ejected laterally of the track; magnetic means located adjacent the other track opposite the escape-way for engagement with said bobbin ring "diametrically opposite to the escape-way, and ejector means located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin transversely from the track by way of said escape-way.

6. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of a bobbin with a bobbin ring resting on said shoulders, one of said tracks having an escape-way by way of which the bobbin may be ejected laterally of the track, a permanent magnet located adjacent the other'track opposite the escape-way for engagement with said bobbin ring diametrically opposite the escape-way, and ejector means located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin from the track by way of said escape-way.

7. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of a bobbin with a bobbin ring resting on said shoulders, one of said tracks having an escape-way by way of which the bobbin maybe ejected laterally from the track, an electromagnet located adjacent the other track opposite the escape-way for engagementhwith said bobbin ring diametrically opposite the escape-way, and ejector means located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin from the track by way of said escape-Way.

8. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receivingsuspended between them the butt of a bobbin with a bobbin ring resting on said shoulders, one of said tracks having an escape-way by way of whichthe bobbin may be ejected laterally from the track, a magnetic pole having a hat surface located substantially perpendicular to the other track opposite the escape-way against which said bobbin ring slides as the bobbin moves along the track, said magnetic pole operating to hold the butt of the bobbin fast against it for movement thereby with its diametrically opposed'portion'unsupportedand an ejector located at theescapeway for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin from the track by way of said escape-way. j .7

8; In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a. place of discharge, a trackhavi-ng spaced parallel shoulders. for receive ing suspended between. them the butt. of a. bob-bin with a. bobbin ring resting on said shoulders, one: t said tracks having an escape-way by way of which the bobbin may be ejected laterally from the track, a magnet having an elongate, pole; face parallel to the, other track perpendicular to that portion thereof opposite the escape-way, said pole providing a, fiat. surface for sliding engagement with said bobbin ring and being set back from .theedgeof the track byan amount. substantially equal to the thickness of: a ring to provide a shelf on which the ring rests while in contact with the magnetic pole face, and ejector means located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting aninco-rnpietely stripped bobbin from the track by way of said escape-way.

' 10. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of a bobbin with a bobbin ring resting on said shoulders, one of said tracks having an escape-way by way of which the bobbin may be ejected laterally from the track, a guide at the escape-way located above the escape-way in a position to engage the base of the butt to hold it against tipping oil" said other track, and ejector means located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin from the track by way of said escape-way.

11. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiv ing suspended between them the butt of a bobbin with a bobbin ring resting on said shoulders, one of said tracks having an escape-way by way of which the bobbin may be ejected laterally from the track, a guide at the escape-way located above the escape-way in a position to engage the bounding edge of the butt to hold it against tipping 01f said other track, and ejector means located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin from the track by way of said escape-way.

12. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of a bobbin with a bobbin ring resting on said shoulders, one of said tracks having an escapeway by way of which the bobbin may be ejected laterally from the track, a guide at the escapeway located above the escape-way in a position to engage the base of the butt to hold it against tipping off said other track, said guide being vertically adjustable, and ejector means located at the escape-way for selectively ejecting an incompletely stripped bobbin from the track by way of said escape-way.

13. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of a bobbin, one of said tracks having an escape-way by way of which the bobbin may be ejected laterally from the track, a guide at the escape-way located above said escape-way in a position to engage the base of the butt to hold it against tipping ofi said other track, said guide being transversely and vertically adjustable with respect to the track, and ejector means located at the escapeway for selectively ejecting an incompletely 1'0 stripped bobbin from. the track: by way of said. QSSZfiDfi-Whjh in In. a bo in stripp ng apparatus includin bobbin stripping means, a. place, of discharge, a-

track; having: spacedparallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them. the; butt or a bobbin, with a bobbin ring resting on. said shoulders, one of said. tracks having; an. escape-way by way oi the. bobbin. may be. ejec ed. laterally from the: tracls, ans. any me ns having contact with thebobbin; at; a place to support it. against overturn from the other track: when. the. bobbin. is at the escape-way; an ejector located, close; to the underside Q'ff saidother track. opposite the escapew-av tor contact with the butt of the bobbin, and means. for a test-mg operation of the. ejector in the presence of a strand of yarnv at the. baseof the bobbin to eject the bobbin. from. the track; by Way of said escape-way.

15. In a bobbin stripping apparatus including bobbin stripping means, a place of discharge, a track having spaced parallel shoulders for receiving suspended between them the butt of a bobbin, one of said tracks having an escape-way by way of which the bobbin may be ejected from the track, auxiliary means having contact with the bobbin in a place to support it against overturn from the other track and opposite the escape-way without blocking the escape-way, an ejector located close to the underside of the track opposite the escape-way operable by impact to drive the bobbin away from said other track and auxiliary support laterally of the track by way of said escape-way and means operable in response to the presence of a strand of yarn at the base of the bobbin to effect operation of said ejector.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the escape-way is constituted by a gap in one of the tracks sufi'icient with to permit the bobbin to move through it.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the escape-way is constituted by terminating one track short of the other.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ejector has an angular end face inclined at the side from which the bobbins advance along the track.

19. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for selectively actuating the ejector means comprises a photoelectric circuit including a source of light for directing a beam of light against the bobbin at its base, a viewing element sensitive to light reflected from yarn on the bobbin, and means actuated by said viewing element in response to the light reflected from the yarn to effect operation of the ejector.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for selectively actuating the ejector comprises a photoelectric circuit including a solenoid operably connected to the ejector, a lamp for directing a beam of light against the bobbin at its base, said beam being substantially normal to the surface of the bobbin and a viewing element located at an angle of approximately 60, said viewing element in response to reflected light exciting said circuit so as to actuate said solenoid.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for selectively actuating the ejector comprises a photoelectric circuit including a solenoid operably connected to the ejector, a lamp for directing a beam of light toward the bobbin at its base, an aperture interposed in the path of the beam for confining the beam to a section of approximately 0.5" in length just below the bobbin shoulder, and a photosensitive element for receiving a reflected beam at approximately 60 from the point of incidence of said beam, said photosensitive element being responsive to reflect light to efiect operation of the solenoid.

22. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for selectively actuating the ejector comprises a photoelectric circuit including a solenoid operably connected to the ejector, a lamp for directing a beam of light toward the bobbin at its base, an aperture interposed in the path of the beam for confining the beam to a section of approximately 0.45" to 0.85" below the bobbin ring and a photosensitive element for receiving the reflected beam, said photosensitive element being responsive to reflected light to effect operation of the solenoid.

23. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein 12 the means for selectively actuating the ejector comprises a photoelectric circuit including a solenoid operably connected to the ejector, a lamp for delivering a beam of light against the bobbin, a photosensitive element sensitive to light reflected from the bobbin and means actuated by said photosensitive element in response to reflected light to efiect operation of the ejector, said photosensitive element being selectively sensitive to blue light.

ELIHU ROOT III.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS COtchett J an. 18, 1949 

